Hello all... and good bye! I get on a plane for Spain in about 5 hours... in the meantime... HAPPY JUNE!!

...and welcome to all those vets and lurkers who would like some company in the tracking of their WoL and WoE

Many hugs to all our regulars... Alida, Barbara, Brenda, Donna, Ilse, Judy, Peg, Shelley, Terry, and then there's moi...

and to all our friends and lurkers!

__________________
Hugs, Rachel







(the horn is in honor of DH!)
Quien canta, sus males espanta... ("She who sings fightens away her ills") Miguel de Cervantes

Can you believe we all posted in the May thread? lol Took Rachel to fix us up and she's got more important things on her mind....like having a great vacation!

__________________
Donna
238.5/168.2/150
I will see my goal weight again!

Hey chickadees!
I'll try and do more than a *fly by* today
Seems like we are all busy and going in ninety different directions here...such is life!

Alida...the stain job is looking a little better, I think. I don't know if it's because it actually DOES look better, or if I'm thinking it looks better so I don't have to re-do it...sigh. The games our minds play....aarrgghh! Anyway, I guess we'll re-evaluate the situation this weekend and make a decision. But DH may have to go solo, 'cause this chick is getting her nails done on Saturday...hehe.

Barb...you are muchly missed, lady! Hope you are having a great time and clicking your little shutter button like crazy!

Bren...yeah...what kind of trailer...camping or utility type? There was a time DH and I were really considering getting a 5th wheel type trailer so we could actually stay out in the RMNP. I would still probably go for it, but with his limited time off(previously had 5 weeks vacation per year, but now only 2 weeks per year due to having to start over again) I don't think it would really be worth it. Maybe an RV when we retire...big dreamer that I am...LOL>

Peg...I'm so proud of you!! WTG on getting started with a walking program. If you only walk 3 or 4 times per week for 20-30 minutes, you'll see the benefits for sure. After you get comfortable with that, start doing other little things that *enhance* your walk...like some hand weights, ankle weights, walk faster, walk further, find a new trail with a few little hills...anything to *shake it up*. But, start out slow so as not to injure yourself and wear some headphones so you can listen to some tunes. My walking time flies by when I'm bopping along with my tunes blasting...yeah, I'm an old rock-n-roller, what can I say?

Judy...we'll miss ya! Write if ya find work....

Rach...we'll miss you too! Have a total mental holiday, m'dear!

Donna...I'm glad your DD is experiencing some peer pressure. It may be the wake up call she needs; then maybe not. It seems my DD at times also thinks more of what her friends say or do more so than what ole mom and dad say...sigh. Hang in there.
I truly hope your DD doesn't have to hit *rock bottom* before she can turn her life around...although I'm told folks with addictions often do. I'm sure this is one of the most difficult things you have ever had to endure....(((hugs)))

Teel...hola! How's old CEDrick doing on his job duties?
What is it about cats and the need to EAT what they are not supposed to eat?...LOL
Our Fu-kitty would go nuts everytime DH sent me flowers; she would literally become a crazed cat and go to the ends of the earth to *eat* the baby's breath and fern greenery in the arrangements. I even tried putting a fresh bouquet I recieved in our room up on a 6ft chest of drawers, and she knocked the darn thing over when she jumped on the chest. Of course water went everywhere, and when I heard the noise I knew what she had done. I ran to the bedroom and caught her in the *act* of chowing down on the fern. Needless to say, a short time later she was hacking up what she had ingested...TMI for non catters...sorry. Yes...those oh soooooooo loveable felines can be quite stubborn, eh?

Alrighty...my bone density test came back normal...yay. But due to the suspected 2 inch height loss, that is the reason for the lateral lumbar xrays, of which the results are still pending. Now...my next *health* issue is a colonoscopy scheduled for July 11th...woohoo; DH is doing his June 13th. In the meantime, I need to address this darn tooth that is super sensitive. I have a call into the dentist to discuss(or cuss) the situation over with him. I'm pretty sure he is going to recommend I proceed with a root canal...blah!
My new glasses are in, so I can pick them up tomorrow after work.
Nothing else new and exciting in my life at the moment...thank God. I don't think I could stand any more fun at this point...har!

Alrighty galpals...I'm off to fold laundry and try to get a little bit of a jump start on the weekend cleaning chores...woohoo again...not!

(((love and hugs to all)))
Shell

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Aren't we so funny to be gabbing and not realize it was June. LOL! Thanks, Shelley and Rachel!

Donna and Shelley, unfortunately the trailer hauleed a motorcycle in a former life--sure not a camper. Most of the time it just takes up space, so all I can say is that when I want a load of MULCH, nobody has any excuses around here :jumpgreen

Shell, good news on the bone density! You're better off than I am in that regard. Hey, I'm getting my new glasses tomorrow too! Pic-chas, Pic-chas!

Peg, waiting to hear how it went with the DR.....

About the DMV, yup, if I go to most of them, it's an awful experience here, too, so I drive west to our little county seat (home of Groundhog Day), where the employees are friendly (!) and the lines are short. Worth the trip.
After that, I ventured to Farm and Fleet to price the trailer tires, and while I was there, picked up three cute ribbed tank tops for $4.99 each. Too bad I had to pay regular price I looked at the horse troughs and manure spreaders but decided against them Love that place!!!

Waves to everyone!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Lincoln Nebraska ...... not a bad place. I would send my kid to this school. Right now I'm giving it five more minutes and then I'm going to bed (maybe it will be dark). We will be in place and starting at 8:00 tomorrow morning. It's been a loooong day. 3:45 is an obscene time to get up!

Keep up the conversation, I'll check in when I can. A wonderful thing about universities is that they have computers everywhere.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more Fooling myself!

Good FRIDAY morning!

I love these short weeks. Because of Memorial Day, here we are in the US thinking Friday is Thursday and Donna was thinking Thursday was Friday!

Too funny about Rachel catching the June thread change! With all the stuff she has to do. Thanks, Rachel!

Judy: Oh, it's not so bad when you do it every frickin day.

So you like Lincoln, Nebraska, eh? I've never been. Have fun and try to check in.

Peg, I am so glad you are getting your mind around the situation. I am anxious to hear what your doctor tells you. And the scale was friendly this week! Terrific! I think you will find when you lose those few pounds, it will really help that BP problem.

Your mention of your Lilac bush really sent me down memory lane. Walking to grammar school and passing all the lilac bushes. I love them, but never planted one. What kind of sun do they need? Full sun? Actually, my most favorite bush, and this is a childhood thing, is the Mock Orange. It flowers around my birthday with a heavenly orange scent. Growing up, we had two in the side yard. These "bushes" were more like trees! Swear to God they were as high as the second story. But maybe that's a faulty memory. Everything looks so big when you're a kid!

Barb, yes! You are missed! Looking forward to your report and all your pictures!

Brenda, OK. Now I am wondering why, if your Dad lives with you, why he had to give you the trailer when he and the trailer is there anyway -- and making you go through the hassle of changing title, etc. Why I think of all these obscure questions, I'll never know. But at least you got to look at manure spreaders in your spare time!

Sounds like a line from the Prairie Home Companion!

Shelley, so the stain is looking better, huh? Maybe it will "age" a little!

Yea! on the bone density test! Hope the lumbar X-rays are good, too. My, you are certainly lined up for FUN health procedures, aren't you? If my insurance is not canceled (letter sent yesterday), I will get some of that stuff done, too.

Walking with music is the only way to go in my book. I need one of those little portable CD players. They make those, don't they? Hopefully, they are cheaper than they were years ago. I have two tape players with earphones but both are on the blink. Should throw them out.

Donna, if your DD's friends are giving her a little cold shoulder, that's all to the good. When peers tell her her actions are skewed, perhaps that will sink in more than when parents tell her.

I am also glad to hear you have a friend "high up" in AA who is sharing facts with you. It's not your fault!"

LOL about gas station toilet messes! Last year we had a contract with Quick Trip to put Anti-Graffiti film on their bathroom mirrors. We had to "close" the bathrooms for about 20 minutes while hanging the film. You wouldn't believe how many men just didn't care and used the urinals anyway while I was in there! Very disconcerting.

Terry, I am lucky that my cats sorta ignore flowers. But I do have several plants and should check that site you posted. The only one Muffin really likes is my (Marginata?) -- she's still alive so I guess that one's not poisonous! I've often thought about those little containers of grass that they sell for cats. But then I think of the upchucking after eating grass and shy away. I have enough of that, anyway!

Yikes. I just saw that Mother-in-law tongue is poisonous! I have two as floor plants in the LR. Better change that. They sorta hide the Kitty Toy Basket. Thanks, Terry!

Rachel, sigh. You will be missed. But I am so happy you are visiting a place you love and being with "family." If anyone needs a break right now, it's you and your DH! Relax, enjoy and energize!

---------------

BIG SIGH. Bob got the results of his Stress Test yesterday. They told him he must have had a heart attack at some point. They say his left ventricle is 30% damaged. Neither one of us has a clue as to what this means. He will see his doctor next week. The only thing we can think of is way back around 1990, he had an "episode." Weak and dizzy. It was during the time when he was struggling with the aftermath of his accountant's embezzlement. Can you say HIGH STRESS? He was seeing everything he had and everything he was go down the tube. I took him to the emergency room. They gave him a shot and I think they did put some electrodes on him. But they told us it was not a heart attack but an anxiety attack. Wonder if they missed the boat. Shelley -- any words of wisdom here?

XXOO!

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Good morning, sweeties! We arrived back in KC Thursday evening, after many adventures. Murphy stalked us a good deal ("If anything can go wrong, it will") but had a fabulous time. DH was a trouper, and considered this trip enlightening as "basic training" for our long trip in October.

Needless to say, I've only had time (so far) to skim the end-of-May posts. Our big city hotel was great on convenience, but not as user-friendly as the lil ol' Holiday Inn Express. More, much more, later.

Bon voyage, Rachel.
Alida, how now?
Peg, steady as she goes.
Shelley, now you know how we felt all those days your were computer-less.
Ack!
Donna, missing persons in cyberspace are NOTHING compared to a missing person in real life. I'm relieved that your daughter showed up, but I join in the encouragement here for YOU to relieve yourself of caretaking responsibility. I believe you've had experience with Alanon? If not, I hope you have access to a group, and will take advantage of that support in getting out of the enabling game.
Judy, our hotel in DC was right across the street from the Dept. of Education. Every entrance features a mocked-up Little Red Schoolhouse facade with the inscription "No Child Left Behind." Ha ha. They are very busy inside that building making up mountains of homework for teachers.

Now, if this will work, a picture of me in the ''vintage" dress (1970s).

See you later ladies.

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__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

More pix? No...says the file is too large. Now why did it upload the first picture and not these other identical ones??? I hate technology! I'll have to figure out how to "ensmall" these files. iPhoto isn't user-friendly when it comes to adjusting sizes. At least I haven't figured it out yet. And I don't have Photoshop on this computer. Oh well. Be patient, my friends. I'll try to be patient, too.

Off to work today. (I don't feel like it, but no sense "wasting" a vacation day on mere recovery!) I've volunteered to help with registration for the big race tomorrow--in which I also plan to run. Run? Geez. I feel like a lumbering elephant at the moment.

Off to clean up and get myself to the office. Back to real life--whatever that is. Back later.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Pix? Maybe that wasn't so hard after all. Just step-by-step.

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__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Hi Gang!

Waiting for a real estate guy to give us an estimate for what he can do. He should be here any minute. Been cleaning house all morning. I'm wiped, and sweating the "big one." (as Shel says)

All is okay having seen the Dr. yesterday. She isn't worried about my BP. It's never been high in 6 years I've been seeing her. She looked at me and said (with a twinkle in her eye, and then a Groucho Marx face) "It happens to people who are 'deconditioned." She then said, "Notice how I didn't call you a couch potato?" I asked her lots of questions and she explained how they get to prescribing BP meds, and I am not a candidate. (Yay!) But, I am a candidate to exercise. (D**n)

I'm going grocery shopping after this real estate guy leaves. That will be my exercise for today.

Back later.
Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/199/175
641/2 years young

Morning ladies...seems like I'm always the last to post.

Barb: Loved the pictures....and the dress!! Is that your dh with you in the picture? Sharp looking guy.

Peg: Woohhoo on not having to take bp medicine. So glad that everything is okay. Should we jump on you now about the exercise thing Hope the real estate gives you a good estimate.

Alida: Lilac bushes will grow almost everywhere sun or no sun. As far as I'm concerned, they are a pain in the a$$. I love the flowers and the smell, but they send runners out and grow everywhere!! I even have them coming up in my grass!! I do love the mock orange though.

When I worked with dh at the gas station, I saw many "things" I shouldn't have when cleaning the bathrooms. I would tell men "I'll leave right away", and they'd say "doesn't bother me, if it doesn't bother you". Have they no pride?

What a shocker for you to find your dh has had a heart attack. Did the dr. say they would be doing anything for the damage to the ventricle, or can they? We have a friend who also had a "silent" heart attack. He didn't need to have any surgery. Try not to worry, I'm sure he'll be okay.

Brenda: 3 new tops...good for you. After all the stories you've told about your dad, I can just picture him on a motorcycle. lol Now you can get all the mulch, or lumber, or whatever you want for all those honey-do projects.

Shelley: I was thinkin' of you last night when I gave myself a pedicure. Not hot pink for me though....flaming red!! We have a ball dance tomorrow night and I finally settled on white capri's with a red top. So...matching toes to go with the top. Only problem with red nail polish is it tends to bleed into the nails and stain them. I'll take it off on Sunday night, maybe.

Terry: I went on a slug hunt last night after your comment that there would be many more. Yup...you were right. They are super tiny, so I'm thinking I was lucky enough to get a pregnant one in one of the flowers that I bought. I must have found 30 of those damn things. I even had dh out there looking for them, even though he finally admitted he didn't know what he was looking for. It was a hoot, when he finally found one. lol I'm hoping I got them all this time, but I'll keep looking. They only seem to be in one flower bed. (so far)

Well, we leave tonight to spend the night at my in-laws. They'll be babysitting the furkids tomorrow while we play ball. Not looking forward to sleeping there. After our kingsized bed, it's hard to sleep in a double bed with 2 dogs. Better than driving an hour each way to the games every day I guess. I do enjoy visiting with my in-laws though...they are such neat people.
I 've lost the 1 1/2 lbs that I gained yesterday, so it certainly was water gain. But, I've finally decided that I'd better change my signature weight cause it sure isn't going to drop anytime soon. Now I have a goal...to get the 153 back (or lower). Sure wasn't nice having to change it though.

So, I definitely won't be posting this weekend....have a good one everyone, and I'll talk to you all on Monday.

__________________
Donna
238.5/168.2/150
I will see my goal weight again!

Oh brother, I am so glad to be sitting here on my fanny, taking a break. I've just spent 1-1/2 hours on my hands and knees with a brush, trying to clean the grout in my tiny TINY foyer. Grrrrr. The grout and tile were never sealed in the first place, so the dirt sucks right in. Sealing it is on my list, if I can ever get it clean enough--or at least a uniform color of dirty, LOL!

Peg, good news on your BP--hope you are getting the incentive, shake your bootie I recommend just that, if nothing else--when Dh is GONE, put on some rockin' tunes and dance, dance, dance! Oh, I'd dread cleaning for realtors; Iwould dread realtors in any form. Whew. Good luck on the asking price!

Donna, have a great weekend. May the weather be pleasant and the team make you proud. (Good luck in the double bed, too. Ouch!)

And no, it's NOT your fault. And it's not your job to fix her.

Barb, you look terrific! Love the halter top dresses, and you certainly show them off well. You and DH look as though you're having a great time.

Alida, how shocking to find out DH has had a heart attack at some point. I don't know how common that might be, but I have heard of that happening--where the person didn't have a clue. Perhaps you're right, though, that panic attack may have been more complicated. If they didn't check his enzymes (maybe they didn't back then, I dunno), perhaps it's possible that nothing showed up at the time on the ekg. Just guessing here, having taken a couple of people to the ER and being generally snoopy about all things medical. Maybe Shelley can enlighten us how often this happens. Are the Drs. recommending any medication/treatment?

LOL Alida, you'd have to know my Dad. When he found out how much it would cost to make the trailer usable again, he "gave" it to us. We figure his gift will cost $200-250.

If you love lilacs but don't want the hassle of the old fashioned ones (like Donna mentioned), you might try Miss Kim lilacs. They stay bush-sized, and have smaller sized flower clusters all over, but still smell wonderful. They're popular here and must be pretty hardy, since some of the shopping centers are using them in their landscape plans.
http://greenwoodnursery.com/page.cfm/21918



Donna and Alida--glad I've never had to spend any quality time in the men's room

Judy, did you have an exciting day? Can't wait to hear about how this all works. Hope they give you enough time for breaks, eating and sleeping!

Shell, how's the glasses? Mine seem to look ok--simple frame in "eggplant", but the color is dark enough that the frames look black in most light. I didn't agonize about them as much this time, anyway. And may the stain job look perfect tomorrow.

Yeah, I think an RV would be wonderful, too. That's the only way DH and I may be able to travel together again, since like Donna, I don't trust anyone to speak of with the furgirls. Gosh, though, even the smaller ones cost more than my first house did!

TB, thanks for the poisonous plant info
Rach, I know you are off and running.

Hugs to all!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

We have 55,000 exams of three question each to be graded by app. 180 people. Firgure the math! I am doing question #2 only. Everyone only does one question, then the papers get passed on. We spent the morning getting together on what was and was not acceptable. As you can expect, each paper is only graded by one person, so spent a good bit of time being calibrated. It took about 2/3 of today to finally get to the real papers. At the end of the day we had all done between 75 and 100. Tomorrow we start in in at 8:00 and hit it for an 8 hour day. As for food and snacks........... we are like Hobbits. I think they feed us 5 times a day and then there are drinks and snacks above that at night. So far I've been mostly good. There is considerable walking thak goodness between the dining hall, the dorm and the building where we are grading.

Check you later chicks............ I've got to go get ready for dinner and exploration of Lincoln.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more Fooling myself!

Hi Gang!

I'm back! Today was a very active day! My grocery shopping took more than an hour and then it took a long time to put it all away. I am cooking this week, so I'm just about out on my feet!

Judy: Thanks, I'm glad to know what you are doing there in Lincoln (my home town. Oh, no, I never lived there, but that is where my parents met and married. My Mom was 16 and my Dad was 22 and played in a small band that came to her church) I still have an aunt and uncle and several first cousins who live there. I used to visit there off and on during my childhood. Have a great memory of the thunderstorms and sitting on the window seat upstairs to watch. That's probably where I get my love of weather! (We had a GREAT boomer last night) Also, I remember my grandmother with such great love. She is the one who used to pull me on her lap, with her "over the shoulder" apron which smelled like bread. She would rock me and croon to me. Mmmmm. It was so wonderful.

Bren: I suspected that the trailer was probably too much trouble for dDad. I remember that your Dad lives with you in the lower floor. You cook for him too, don't you? But, I agree about the mulch and other stuff too!

Barb: Wow! What shoulders! You fox you! Glad you're back!

Shel: Whatcha doin today? Workin'?

Donna: Have a great weekend.

Terry: Whatcha doin today?

Rach: Happy trails to you, my dear.

Alida: Great to hear from you, my dear.

Well, I'm off to watch TV. Friday night promises to be pretty bland. Everything is over now, and there are only re runs. We are supposed to get a lot of rain, but so far it seems to be going South.

Real estate agent was late and we had to call him! But, when he got here he seemed pretty excited about our place. (He lives next door, so knows the condo complex) He said that I didn't need to do much more staging. That's good news!

I'll see ya'll tomorrow.
Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/199/175
641/2 years young

HI guys!

Today was a booger at work...Monday will be busier. Even though we had a 4 day work week(3 days for me) we made up for it, believe me!

Wow...lots going on today with everyone.

Bren...yowzers on scrubbing that grout...isn't that just a thankless task? GAG!
No Slugdom crown for you sweetie!
I'm feelin' a little more love for my new glasses, but I'm having a little trouble finding the *sweet spot* with the bifocals when I'm on the computer...oh great! I think maybe a small adjustment so they sit up a little higher on the nose might take care of it.
Pic-chas of your new glasses??? How funny you mentioned *eggplant* color...I had a brief attraction to a frame that was a deep burgundy...almost blackish color, but the shape didn't seem right...but the color sang to me

Peg...yay for no BP meds...what great news. Now perhaps you can *ease* into a walking program and not feel so pressured to *perform*, yanno.
Walking is just plain good for the soul...and the body I do some of my best *thinking* when I'm hoofin' it...LOL.

Alida...sorry to hear that your Bob may have some heart damage. It's hard to tell sometimes when these things occur. Also, sometimes the EKG machine will *over read* the ekg...and say "possible recent MI" or "possible this, that, or the other". Did the Dr mention doing a 2-D echo or exercise thallium test?
Those tests might help eval further if something is going on. Hope everything will be well.

Barb...Welcome home!!! You were missed, Missy! Great pics! Thanks for sharing. You look terrific and your sweetie is a handsom guy! Glad you had such a good time. Now you need a vacation to recover from the vacation, eh? I always do.

Judy...wowzers to you too! That's gonna be an awful lot of reading! Oye!!
You are truly a dedicated soul. Hope your sight-seeing is tons of fun! I've never been to Lincoln either. Give us the scoop if it's a vacation destination, OK? Any news from home about Lexie? Hopefully no more poopy puppy stuff.

Teel...what are you up to? How did your brunch turn out? Bet you had a lovely time. I think brunches are probably more fun and less tramatic than dinner parties...not that I have any great experiences with either one...JMHO

Donna...well....WOOHOO!!! You go girl!! Red toes would be my next choice next to hot pink I'm always a little more *daring* with the toe color...hehe. Hope you have a super good time this weekend. We'll be waiting for your Monday report!

Rach...happy holiday! have a blast!

OK...as I mention above, I'm having a wee bit of an adjustment problem with the new spectacles. Anyhooo.....here is a cheesey picture of the new glasses. Feel free to enlarge it and put it in your garden as a substitute scarecrow...EEK!!!
PS...I still had my scrubs on from work...
later, chickadees...
(((hugs)))
Shell

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__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!